Article holding device



E. E. JOHNSON ARTICLE HOLDING DEVICE Filed July 21, 1960 'Sept. 18, 1962 United States Patent @tiice 3,6545 l Patented Sept. 18, 1962 3,054,510 ARTICLE HOLDING DEVICE Elmer E. Johnson, 2517 W. Collins St., Blue Island, Ill. Filed July 21, 1960, Ser. No. 44,452 4 Claims. (Cl. 21186) This invention relates in general to an article holding device, and in particular to an article holding device for conveniently supporting articles such as collapsible tubes or the like.

A large variety of items such as notions and pharmaceuticals are sold to the public in collapsible tubes from which they are to be dispensed. These collapsible tubes are usually stored for use in medicine cabinets or the like. Often these medicine cabinets or the like become overcrowded and it becomes ditlicult to find the desired tube. At times even when the desired tube is located it becomes diflicult to gain access thereto without unpacking a portion of the medicine cabinet. It is, therefore, desirable to provide a holding device which will readily position these tubes and which will provide easy access thereto. Also, because of the constant rearrangement of items normally found in a medicine cabinet, any holding device which is adapted for use in a medicine cabinet should be capable of being readily moved and, further, any holding device for collapsible tubes and the like must be adapted for easy removal of the collapsible tubes.

Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide an article holding device for collapsible tubes which is readily and easily positioned and capable of being easily moved and re-positioned and which is arranged so as to provide easy access to the collapsible tubes being supported thereby, and wherein each collapsible tube supported thereby may be readily removed from and loaded onto the article holding device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an article holding device which will readily and properly support collapsible tubes whether they be of the metallic and folding type or the plastic and resilient type.

A further object of the invention is to provide an article holding device for items such as collapsible tubes which may be utilized to improve the dispensing proficiency of the collapsible tubes supported thereby.

A further object of the invention is to provide an article holding device for items such as collapsible tubes which presents a neat appearance and consequently improves the surroundings where the collapsible tubes are supported.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article holding device for items such as collapsible tubes which may be readily manufactured, which is of a simple and economical design, which is rugged and durable and which fulfills a need long felt in the average home.

Other objects and features of the invention will be more readily understood if the following is viewed in light of the drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention positioned within a device such as a medicine cabinet;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partially cut-away enlarged end view illustrating a collapsible tube being held by the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Briefly what has been provided is an article holding device for items such as a collapsible tube, which may hold toothpaste and the like, which comprises: a rubber suction cup supporting means which may be readily attached to any suitable surface, easily removed therefrom and positioned on any other surface or a different portion of the first selected surface; a rigid shaft attached to the suction cup; an easy access positioning disc attached to the shaft and rotatable thereon; and a plurality of removable clip members which are removably attached to the positioning disc and which are adapted to support various types of collapsible tubes.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a medicine cabinet 10 of the type utilized in many homes for the storage of notions, toothpaste and the like. Positioned within the cabinet 10 is a removable shelf 12, which is preferably composed of a material such as glass. Securely attached to the underside of the glass shelf 12 is the reference holding device for use in positioning items such as collapsible tubes and the like, and which comprises a rubber suction cup head 22, which is capable of providing a sufiicient suction force to rigidly and easily position a plurality of collapsible tubes. Attached to the suction cup head 22 is a rigid shaft 24. Shaft 24 has integrally formed thereon at opposite ends thereof a reduced cross-section portion 26 and an enlarged cross-section portion 28. The reduced section 26 fits into the suction head 22 and the diameter of the reduced section 26 is greater than the normal diameter of the bore 21 provided in the suction cup head 22 therefor. And, consequently, the shaft 24 and the suction head 22 are held together by an interference fit. Suitable adhesives may be utilized to strengthen the bond between the shaft 24 and the suction cup head 22, if desired.

The shaft 24 is preferably composed of a suitable rigid plastic material. However, it may be composed of wood or any other suitable material. Rotatably affixed to shaft 24 is the easy access positioning disc 30 normally supported on the shaft 24 adjacent the enlarged section 28 thereof. Disc 30 may be composed of any suitable material such as a rigid and lightweight plastic and disc 30 is bored through so as to be readily and easily positioned on the shaft 24. The diameter of the bore 22 through disc 30 is greater than the diameter of the portion of shaft 24 intermediate the reduced section 26 and the enlarged section 28 thereof and the disc 30 is therefore readily rotatable about shaft 24. Positioned within the disc 30 and regularly spaced thereon, as seen in FIG. 3, are a plurality of clip positioning holes 32.

A plurality of removable clips, as for example clips 40 and 42, are provided to easily and readily mount collapsible tubes on the rotatable disc 30. These clips comprise a spring wire bent in a somewhat U-shape with the inside surfaces of the U positioned substantially contiguous with one another. At the upper end of the U the wire is bent at substantially so as to provide positioning shafts 44 adapted to fit into the clip holes 32 of disc 30. Clip 40 is a vertical clip, inasmuch as the slot therein or the resilient portion thereof exerts a force in the vertical plane as viewed in the drawings. Vertical clip 40 is composed of a spring material and is adapted to resiliently secure the closed end portion or the seam portion of a collapsible tube within the slot 48 provided thereby. The vertical clip 40 is more readily utilized with collapsible tubes of the metallic or foldable type. The closed end or seam end of the collapsible tube is positioned within the slot 42 and bent over at a 90 angle so that the collapsible tube will be positioned in the vertical plane for neatness and also to conserve space as seen in FIG. 1. When the collapsible tube has been partially used it may be Wound around the vertical clip 40 to thereby insure a more eflicient dispensing of the contents of the collapsible tube. The vertical clip 40 is easily removed from the disc 30 by merely positioning the shaft end 44 thereof within one of the clip positioning a holes 32 provided in disc 30. The opposite end 46 of the spring clip 40 insures that the foldable tube while being used will be folded in a proper manner. It should be noted at this time, and as can be more readily seen in FIG. 1, collapsible tubes wound around the spring clip 40 will present a neat appearance and will also dispense a larger quantity of the contents of the collapsible tube to the user, inasmuch as the collapsible tube may be tightly wound around the spring clip 40.

There is also illustrated in the drawings a horizontal clip 42, which exerts a spring force in the horizontal plane as seen in the drawings, and which may be readily utilized with collapsible tubes of the resilient type such as collapsible plastic tubes. Resilient plastic tubes collapse due to a force being exerted thereon but reform as soon as the force has been removed. Therefore, the seam end of the resilient collapsible tube is positioned within the spring slot 50 provided by the horizontal clip 42, and the clip 42 exerts a holding force on the resilient collapsible tube in the horizontal plane. A variety of spring clips may be designed for the particular shape and type of collapsible tube to be utilized.

'What has been described is a holding device for items such as collapsible tubes, which is easily positioned by merely securing the suction head 22 on any desired and suitable surface. The rigid collapsible tubes supported thereby are readily accessible inasmuch as the positioning disc 30 rotates about the positioning shaft 24, and therefore even a collapsible tube positioned rearwardly of the other collapsible tubes may be readily presented by merely rotating the disc 30. Furthermore, the collapsible tube may be readily removed by lifting the selected spring clip from the positioning hole in the disc 31}. The design of the spring clips themselves aids in the proper dispensation of the contents of the collapsible tube, and insures a neat looking collapsible tube arrangement.

What has been described is what is believed to be the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Specifically, it should be apparent that a securing head other than a rubber suction cup head may be provided when desired.

What is claimed is:

1. An article holding device for positioning items such as collapsible tubes comprising: a rubber suction head, a rigid shaft attached to said suction head having an intermediate section and integrally formed on one end of said intermediate section a reduced section and on the opposite end thereof an enlarged section, said rubber suction head having formed therein a first bore adapted to receive said reduced section of said shaft and the maximum transverse dimension of said reduced section of said shaft exceeding the maximum transverse dimension of said first bore in said suction head, an easy access positioning disc rotat- .ably mounted on said positioning shaft normally adjacent said enlarged section, said positioning disc having formed therein a second bore, the diameter of said second bore exceeding the diameter of said positioning shaft at said reduced section and at said intermediate section; and the diameter of said second bore being less than the diameter of said enlarged portion of said shaft, said easy access positioning disc having a plurality of clip holes provided therein, and a plurality of removable spring clips, a portion of which is positioned within said clip holes, said spring clips having a shaft portion formed thereon for ready insertion and removal from said plurality of clip holes provided in said positioning disc, said spring clips comprising a substantially U shape springwire exerting a force in substantially one plane.

2. An'article holding device for positioning items such as collapsible tubes comprising: a securing head having formed at one end thereof a rubber suction head and at the other end thereof a first bore, a rigid shaft attached to said securing head, having an intermediate section having formed thereon a reduced section at one end thereof and an enlarged section at the opposite end thereof, the diameter of said first bore formed at one end of said securing head being smaller than the diameter of said shaft at said reduced section thereof whereby said reduced section of said shaft is attached to said first bore of said securing head by an interference fit, an easy access positioning disc mounted on said shaft normally adjacent said enlarged section of said shaft, said positioning disc having formed therein a centrally located second bore, said second bore on said positioning disc having a diameter exceeding the diameter of said reduced section and said intermediate section and smaller than the diameter of said enlarged section of said shaft, said disc having a plurality of clip holes provided therein, and a plurality of removable spring clips removably attached to said positioning disc having a shaft portion formed thereon for ready insertion and removal from said plurality of clip holes, said spring clips formed of a substantially U shaped spring wire adapted to exert a force substantially in one plane.

3. An article holding device for positioning items such as collapsible tubes comprising, a securing head having formed at one end thereof a rubber suction head and at the other end thereof a first bore, a rigid shaft attached to said securing head having an intermediate section having formed thereon a reduced section at one end thereof "and an enlarged section at the opposite end thereof, the diameter of said first bore formed at one end of said securing head being smaller than the diameter of said shaft at said reduced section thereof whereby said reduced section of said shaft is'attached to said first 'bore of said securing head by an interference fit, an easy access positioning disc mounted on said shaft normally adjacent said enlarged section of said shaft, said positioning disc having formed therein a centrally located second bore, said second bore on said positioning disc having a diameter exceeding the diameter of said reduced section and said intermediate section and smaller than the diameter of said enlarged section of said shaft, said disc having a plurality of clip holes provided therein and a plurality of removable spring clips removably attached to said positioning disc having a shaft portion formed thereon for ready insertion and removal from said plurality of clip holes, said spring clips formed of a substantially U shaped spring wire adapted to exert aforce substantially in one plane, the legs of said U shaped clips being substantially contiguous to one another and the opposite ends of said spring clips being extended in opposite directions within the same plane.

4. An article holding device for positioning items such as collapsible tubes comprising, a securing head having formed at one end thereof a rubber suction head and at the other end thereof a first bore, a rigid shaft attached to said securing head having an intermediate section having formed thereon a reduced section at one end thereof and an enlarged section at the opposite end thereof, the diameter of said first bore formed at one end of said securing head being smaller than the diameter of said shaft at said reduced section thereof whereby said reduced section of said shaft is attached to said first bore of said securing head by an interference 'fit, an easy access positioning disc mounted on said shaft normally adjacent said enlarged section of said shaft, said positioning disc having formed therein a centrally located second bore, said second bore on said positioning disc having a diameter exceeding the diameter of said reduced section and said intermediate section and smaller than the diameter of said enlarged section of said shaft, said disc having a plurality of clip holes provided therein and aplurality of removable spring clips removably attached to said positioning disc having a shaft portion formed thereon for ready insertion and removal from said plurality of clip holes, said spring clips formed of a substantially U shaped spring wire adapted to exert a force substantially in one plane, the legs of said U shaped clips being contiguous with onewanother and the end portions of said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Mills Apr. 11, 1899 Brager Jan. 11, 1916 6 Blackmon Aug. 9, 1927 M'osgrove Nov. 25, 1930 Reinsbcrg Aug. 13, 1935 Connelly July 26, 1938 Wallin July 10, 1951 St. Clair Mar. 1, 1960 

